Hoeven Outlines Efforts to Make Farm Bill Conservation Title More Farmer-Friendly, Support Voluntary Conservation Programs

 

At the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts annual meeting today, Senator John Hoeven outlined his efforts to make the farm bill conservation programs more farmer-friendly. This includes improving programs at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Hoeven is advancing this goal both as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and as a member of the Senate-House farm bill conference committee, where he is working to pass a strong farm bill into law as soon as possible.

“Our farmers and ranchers have the greatest interest in maintaining their land, which they continue to demonstrate through their good stewardship,” said Hoeven. “The conservation programs under the farm bill should give our agriculture producers the tools they need to succeed, rather than impose unworkable mandates. That’s why we’re working to enhance voluntary programs like CRP, EQIP and CSP and, at the same time, provide relief from NRCS’s wetlands regulations. These efforts will help ensure soil and water quality for generations to come, while also helping farmers to maintain and grow their operations.”